The road to college is complex. A common question parents ask is, “should my student take AP or dual enrollment classes?” As with so many other questions related to the college admissions process, the answer is, “It depends.”
What the answer depends on can loosely be categorized across two main criteria: (1) the student in question, and (2) what institution(s) students hope to attend.
Criterion 1: The Student in Question
According to the College Board, 1,213,760 or 38.3% U.S. public high school graduates in the class of 2020 took at least one AP Exam. Of those, 772,005 or 24.4% scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam. In other words, slightly less than ¼ of students who take AP tests score a 3 or higher on at least one exam.
Bottom line: Students who feel confident in their abilities to earn a 3 or higher on AP tests are the best candidates for AP classes.
Criterion 2: The Institutional Question
Colleges seem to be all over the place in their attitudes towards the relative merits of AP or Dual Enrollment. While my basic research revealed that the Princeton and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Davidson College, and a host of others consider AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment classes to be vigorous, the University of Georgia and a host of others do not (see below for examples).
Princeton University states, “Whenever you can, challenge yourself with the most rigorous courses possible, such as honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment courses. We will evaluate the International Baccalaureate (IB), A-levels or another diploma in the context of the program’s curriculum.”
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill states, “We also encourage our candidates to take at least five of the most rigorous courses available to them, including college-level courses offered through programs such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or dual-enrollment programs. In evaluating academic performance in such a curriculum, we pay less attention to class rank and grade point average than we do to grades and to trends and patterns in grade.”
The University of Georgia states, “When we add weight to a student’s grades, it is only for AP or IB grades, as these courses are nationally and internationally standardized through the College Board and IB programs guidance. While we certainly look at Honors/Gifted/Accelerated/Dual Enrollment courses in our review of a student’s rigorous schedule, these courses are not standardized within a county or state, much less internationally.”
Bottom line: While some schools clearly have a preference, others do not.
Ultimately, what courses students should take in high school should be dictated by where rigor and success (academic, social, & emotional) intersect for them and their post high school goals.
Three Tips to Help Make the Best Decision for your Student
- Consult with a guidance counselor and/or an Independent College Consultant
- Ensure that the people advising you have a strong understanding of your student’s strengths and weaknesses
- Ask your counselor about how the institutions your student wants to attend define rigor
For questions on what defines rigor and how that impacts your student or anything else related to the college process, feel free to contact me at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com.
0 Comments